US20060195234A1 - Navigational system with a graphical scratchpad filler - Google Patents

Abstract

A navigation system takes a graphical input and translates it into an alpha-numeric entry generally including latitude and longitude information. The system interprets the graphical entry, determines if a waypoint already exists or is depicted at the geographical location identified by the graphical entry and creates a new waypoint if no waypoint already exists or is depicted at the geographical location.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The invention generally relates to electronic data entry systems and specifically to electronic data entry systems with graphical scratchpad fillers for use in aircraft navigation systems.
BACKGROUND
• Flight management in large commercial aircraft generally includes a flight management system (FMS). The FMS typically includes a central computer unit which integrates flight information and enables the pilot to manipulate flight information. Flight information may include, for example, aircraft position data, flight plan data, instrument approach information, and/or any other information which may pertain to flight management.
• The FMS is generally connected to some sort of display unit, such as, for example, a central display unit (CDU), with which the FMS displays flight management information for use by the pilots. The CDU generally has an area on the screen which displays information prior to entry by the pilot called a scratchpad. The scratchpad displays characters as they are entered on a keyboard by the pilot. Thus, the pilot is able to check his/her data entry work prior to entry into the FMS.
• For example, when interacting with a navigation system, the pilot generally enters any needed data into the FMS via the keyboard. Flight plan information generally includes, but is not limited to, waypoint and leg information. Waypoints are series of points that, when connected, identify a flight path. Therefore, modifications to the flight path (or flight plan) generally include modifications to and additions or deletions of waypoints and/or waypoint data. Waypoints may be pre-existing, pre-defined waypoints generally approved by some sort of authoritative body, such as the FAA, or the waypoints may be user defined. Waypoint information generally includes a waypoint name, an identifier code, and latitude and longitude information, among other items.
• When the pilot needs to modify, add, and/or delete flight plan data, he/she generally enters waypoint information into the FMS and views the information on the scratchpad area of the CDU. The pilot generally must enter alpha-numeric characters of some sort to identify the waypoint. Another way to identify a waypoint is to define the new waypoint as a bearing and distance from an already defined waypoint. This method of waypoint identification also involves entering alpha-numeric characters into the scratchpad.
• The process of determining waypoint information and entering it into the FMS via the CDU and alpha-numeric characters is both time consuming and requires considerable cognitive effort by the pilot.
• The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems or disadvantages associated with the prior art.
SUMMARY
• An aircraft navigational system with a graphical scratchpad filler is provided including a processor which runs a software program, an electronic display which displays navigational data, a flight management computer including a central display unit with a scratchpad area, and a cursor control device. The user may use the cursor control device to control a cursor on the electronic display and select points on the electronic display for entry into the scratchpad area of the central display unit.
• A method of filling a scratchpad area on a central display unit is provided, including selecting a location on an electronic display with a cursor control device, converting the selected location to latitude and longitude coordinates, and comparing the latitude and longitude to a set of displayed points on the electronic display. Either the latitude and longitude or one of the points displayed on the electronic display may be sent to the scratchpad area on the central display unit
• The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 shows an aircraft and a flight deck within the aircraft.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a graphical scratchpad filler.
• FIG. 3 is an example of a Flight Management Computer including a scratchpad area.
• FIG. 4 is an example of a navigational display.
• FIG. 4A is the navigational display ofFIG. 4 showing a temporary waypoint symbol.
• FIG. 5 is an example of one embodiment of a logic diagram illustrating how the software of the graphical scratchpad filler may operate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Turning now toFIG. 1, anaircraft10 generally includes aflight deck15 from which pilots may control the operation of theaircraft10. Theflight deck15 may includestations20 for one or more pilots, one or moreelectronic displays30 and at least one cursor control device (CCD)40.
• FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of agraphical scratchpad filler100. Thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may be integrated with a flight management computer (FMC)110 which may have amemory112 containing asoftware program114. Thememory112 may also include adatabase115 which may include waypoint information. The FMC110 may be operatively connected to a central display unit (CDU)120 which may be an electronic display for displaying flight management information. The FMC110 may also be operatively connected to the cursor control device (CCD)40. TheCCD40 may enable the pilots to control a cursor on a navigational display for selection and entry of information into a scratchpad area310 (FIG. 3) of the FMC110.
• Although the components of thegraphical scratchpad filler100 have been described with reference to aircraft systems, the components of thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may be more general in nature, for example, a computer of any sort could be substituted for the FMC110 and an electronic display of any sort may be substituted for the CDU120. Additionally, the electronic display may be, for example, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, a projection display, a touch screen display, or any other type of electronic display.
• FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of the FMC110 that may be integrated with thegraphical scratchpad filler100 ofFIG. 2. The FMC110 may have a CDU120 including ascratchpad area310, lineselect keys304 andentry keys306. Generally, flight management information is displayed on the CDU120 for reference and manipulation by the pilot. The pilot enters data into the FMC110 via the lineselect keys304 and theentry keys306. The line selectkeys304 may allow the pilot to select options or choices available on the CDU120. If the pilot needs to enter data into the FMC110, for example, new waypoint data, thedata entry keys306, which may represent alpha-numeric characters similar to a keyboard, may be used for data entry. When the pilot enters data via the entry keys306 (and in some cases the line select keys), the entries appear in thescratchpad area310, and this may allow the pilot to check his/her work prior to execution. Final entry of data from thescratchpad area310 into the FMC110 may be accomplished with an execute key or an enter key (neither shown), or by selecting one of the lineselect keys304.
• FIG. 4 is an example of a navigational display (ND)400. The ND400 may be any type of electronic display which displays positional information for an aircraft and/or flight plan information for the aircraft. The ND400 may also include apartial compass rose412 and an aircraft heading and/ortrack indication414. An aircraft flight plan generally includeswaypoints430 andlegs420a,420b,420cwhich connect the waypoints. Additionally, different types of waypoints may be displayed,active waypoints430 andbackground waypoints440. The active waypoints are locations, identified by latitude and longitude, over or through which theaircraft410 will pass and which identify points in the flight plan. In other words, theactive waypoints430 define the flight plan and thelegs420a,420b,420cconnect those waypoints.Background waypoints440 may also be displayed on the ND400.Background waypoints440 may be predefined waypoints contained within the database of the FMC110. Thesebackground waypoints440 may help the pilots change the flight plan in response to, for example, air traffic control instructions or weather deviations. Additionally, acursor450 may be displayed on theND400 and controlled by theCCD40.
• FIG. 5 shows a logic diagram500 illustrating a procedure which may be followed by thegraphical scratchpad filler100 embodied inFIG. 2. The graphical scratchpad filler may begin at510 by determining whether thescratchpad area310 on the CDU120 (shown inFIG. 3) is empty, meaning there is no text currently displayed in thescratchpad area310. If the scratchpad area is not empty, or is displaying text, thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may continue to monitor the condition of the scratchpad until the scratchpad is empty.
• Once thegraphical scratchpad filler100 has determined that thescratchpad area310 is empty, thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may then determine if a waypoint pick mode is active at512. The waypoint pick mode may be a mode within thegraphical scratchpad filler100, selected by the user, which tells thegraphical scratchpad filler100 that the user is searching for a waypoint. If the waypoint pick mode is not active at512, thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may continue to monitor the scratchpad area at510 and the waypoint pick mode at512. If however, the waypoint pick mode is active at512, thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may then determine whether the waypoint pick mode has been cancelled at514. If the waypoint pick mode has been cancelled at514, thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may again monitor the scratchpad area at510 and the waypoint pick mode at512.
• If the waypoint pick mode has not been cancelled at514, the graphical scratchpad filler may convert the position of thecursor450 on the ND400 (FIG. 4) to a point defined by a latitude and a longitude. This conversion may be performed by using the Sodano Equation shown below:$\mathrm{NewLat}=a\sin \left[\left(\sin \left(\mathrm{refLat}\right)\times \cos \left(\frac{\sqrt{\Delta {\mathrm{<figure-callout\; label="X"\; filenames="US20060195234A1-20060831-D00003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">X</figure-callout>}}^2+\Delta Y^2}}{3444.053898}\right)\right)+\left(\cos \left(\mathrm{refLat}\right)\times \left(\cos \left(\mathrm{aran}\frac{\Delta X}{\Delta Y}\right)\right)\times \cos \left(\frac{\sqrt{\Delta {\mathrm{<figure-callout\; label="X"\; filenames="US20060195234A1-20060831-D00003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">X</figure-callout>}}^2+\Delta Y^2}}{3444.053898}\right)\right)\right]$$\mathrm{NewLong}=\mathrm{resolve}\mathrm{to}+\text{/}-180\left(\mathrm{refLong}+\left(H\times a\cos \left(\frac{\cos (\frac{\sqrt{\Delta {\mathrm{<figure-callout\; label="X"\; filenames="US20060195234A1-20060831-D00003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">X</figure-callout>}}^2+\Delta Y^2}}{3444.053898}}{\mathrm{Cos}\left(\mathrm{refLat}\right)x\left(\cos \left(\mathrm{Lat\_New}\right)\right)}\right)\right)\right)$
• Where:
• New Lat is the latitude of the cursor point
• New Long is the longitude of the cursor point
• reflat is a reference latitude
• reflong is a reference longitude
• ΔX is the difference in the X direction between the reference point and the cursor position on the ND
• ΔY is the difference in the Y direction between the reference point and the cursor position on the ND
• This conversion may also be performed by any equivalent equation that projects a point on a sphere onto a plane.
• After thegraphical scratchpad filler100 has converted the cursor position to a point of latitude and longitude at516, the cursor may be checked at518 to determine whether a displayed point, such as, for example, a waypoint, an airport, a NAVAID, a station, or any other displayed point, is located within a preset distance from the cursor location. In one embodiment, the preset distance is a 0.25 inch radius about thecursor450. In this way, the user may effectively “filter” which points may be checked by selecting the appropriate level of detail on theND400. For instance, if the user would like to check for anybackground waypoints440 which may allow him/her to modify the flight plan to avoid weather, the user may selectbackground waypoints440 for display on theND400 before selecting the waypoint pick mode. In this way, the background waypoints may be displayed on theND400 and be available for thegraphical scratchpad filler100 to check. Conversely, if the user would like to check for a diversion airport, he/she may select airports or stations for display on theND400 prior to selecting the waypoint pick mode on thegraphical scratchpad filler100. In this way, the user may selectively “filter out” unwanted data on theND400 and thereby speed up the selection process and ultimately the process of modifying the flight plan if desired.
• If a displayed point is located within the preset distance of thecursor450, the displayed point may be highlighted and the identification of the point shown on theND400 at520. Identification of a point in aviation generally includes a one to seven letter code which uniquely identifies the point. The code may be stored in a database along with information specific about the point, such as, for example, latitude and longitude, point type (i.e. beacon, TACAN, VOR, VORTAC, airport, etc.), magnetic variation, servicing agency, frequency, or any other desired information about the point.
• The user may select the highlighted displayed point on theND400 at522 by activating the cursor control device130 (FIG. 2). Once selected, thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may send the point identification (two to four letter code) to thescratchpad area310 of the FMC110 (FIG. 3) at524 and place a temporary waypoint symbol451 (FIG. 4A) on theND400 with the point identification at that location at531. Once the data has been sent to thescratchpad area310, the user may then modify the flight plan per normal operation of theFMC110.
• If, however, there is no displayed point on theND400 within the predefined distance of the cursor at518, thegraphical scratchpad filler100 may display the latitude and longitude of the point (determined at516) at526. Once the latitude and longitude of the point is displayed at526, the user may select this latitude and longitude at528 by activating thecursor control device130. If the user selects the latitude and longitude at528, the latitude and longitude may be sent to thescratchpad area310 of theFMC110 at530 and atemporary waypoint symbol451 with the latitude and longitude may be placed on theND400 at the selected location at533. Again, once the latitude and longitude is sent to thescratchpad area310, the user may modify the flight plan per normal operation of theFMC110.
• Other aspects and features of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. An aircraft navigation system comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to an electronic display that graphically displays flight plan information;

a flight management computer, the flight management computer including a central display unit for alpha-numerically displaying flight plan information;

a memory accessible by the processor and adapted to store a software program and a database; and

a cursor control device for controlling a cursor on the electronic display,

wherein the software program is adapted to interpret a selection on the electronic display made by a user with the cursor control device and to fill a scratchpad area on the central display unit with the interpretation of the selection.

2. The aircraft navigation system ofclaim 1, wherein the selection on the electronic display is converted to latitude and longitude coordinates.

3. The aircraft navigation system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is part of a flight management system.

4. The aircraft navigation system ofclaim 1, wherein the electronic display is one of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, and a projection display.

5. The aircraft navigation system ofclaim 4, wherein the electronic display incorporates touch-screen technology and wherein the cursor is controlled by a user touching the display.

6. The aircraft navigation system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor checks the electronic display for displayed navigational points which are located within a predefined distance of the cursor location.

7. The aircraft navigation system ofclaim 6, wherein the processor determines the selection to be the same as the navigational point if the selection falls within a predetermined distance of the navigational point.

8. The aircraft navigation system ofclaim 7, wherein the predetermined distance is 0.25 inches.

9. A method of filling a scratchpad area on a central display unit of a navigation system comprising:

selecting a location on an electronic display with a cursor control device;

converting the selected location to latitude and longitude coordinates;

comparing the latitude and longitude to a set of displayed points on the electronic display;

sending data representing either the latitude and longitude or one of the points displayed on the electronic display to the scratchpad area on the central display unit.

10. The method ofclaim 9 further including displaying a temporary waypoint symbol at the selected location on the electronic display.

11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein latitude and longitude information for the selected location is displayed on the electronic display proximate the temporary waypoint symbol.

12. The method ofclaim 10, wherein identification information for the selected location is displayed on the electronic display proximate the temporary waypoint symbol.

13. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the selected location is converted to latitude and longitude coordinates by using the Sodano Equation.

14. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the electronic display is one of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, and a projection display.

15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the electronic display includes touch screen technology and the user controls the cursor by at least one of touching the electronic display and manipulating the cursor control device.

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